Film measuring apparatus



Dec. 28, 1943. 1: SHARP 2,338,014

FILM MEASURING APPARATUS 7 Filed Oct. 4, 1940 2 SheetsSheet 1 ScRssN CONSOLE Han/Rs PRa/EcroR Sow/0 RECORDER POWER SUPPLY filo/9A5 C. SHARP) Wow;

Dec. 28, 1943.

T. c. SHARP 1 FILM MEASURING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 4, 1940 2 Sheets-Shee t 2 43 110 VA. c.

IMPULSI Reuv .77 /oMAs CZ 5 3/435 -W%MV- rerecording of sound to producethe to the mixer at all times.

Patented Dec. 28, 1 943 'FILM MEASURING APPARATUS Thomas C. Sharp, North Hollywood, Calif assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware v i Application October 4, 1940, Serial No. 359,745

Claims. (01. 235-92) This invention relatesto motion picture appa ratus and particularly to apparatus used in the picture and sound film.

In the production of motion picture sound films, the picture and sound are usually photocombin'ation graphed and recorded in the first instance on separate films-and 'then reproduced simultaneously in individual reproduction apparatus to permit the combining 'of other sound tracks, to

correct irregularities inthe dialogue track, or

to obtain the proper level and dramatic effects desired for the combination film; In this rerecording process the picture is projected onthe screen and the sound track is simultaneously reproduced in front of an operator, called a mixer, who adjusts the volume-and introduces the various sounds at the proper points. Several rehearsal runs are made prior to the final take, which consists of recording a new sound record combining the various separate records. 8

During the rehearsals it is necessary to note the'point in the dialogue track reel at which modifications or corrections are to be made, such as the elimination of scratches or other variations in the track which introduce deleterious noises, or the. reduction of sibilants by inking them over on the original sound track to increase the average density of the track. Points on other of the sound tracks being reproduced where insertions or certain portions are to be deleted are also noted. r I

The present invention is directed'to a systemfor enabling the mixer to know at what point in the reel a certain incident, such as mentioned from the exact point. This procedure, of course, is not particularly accurate.

7 The. principal object of the invention, therefore, is to facilitate the rerecording. of sound tracks. I

Another object'of the invention is to permit a rerecording operator to determine the exact point in a film reel being reproduced at which any particular incident occurs.

A further object of the invention is to provide 'a synchronized footage indicator visible to a rerecording operator and controllable by him at a point remote from the footage indicator.

A further objectof the invention is to provide a footage indicator with a remote re-set control which may be re-set without interference with the actuating elements of the footage counter. Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention are pointed- I out with particularity in the appended claims,

the manner of its organization and the mode "of its operation will be better understood by re ferring to the following description read in con-- junction with the accompanying drawin s. form- -ing a part thereof in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic drawing of a rerecording system embodying the invention; and

Figure 2 is a schematic drawing of the invention.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a mixing console 5-is positioned at the rear portion of astage, while.

- a motion picture screen 6 is positioned at the above, occurs so that this point may be quickly located by the reproducer operators during inspection of the reels. In brief, the invention is a synchronized footage counter which can'be started and re-set from the mixers console and which is operated simultaneously with the projection of the picture and reproduction of the sound so that the operator is aware at all-times of the exact point in the reel which is being reproduced. The footage counter is plainly visible Heretofore it has been common practice for the mixing operator-to advise the reproducing operators at the time an incident occurs to place a slip of paper in the reel being reproduced and theone which is to be later modified in some manner. As a rule, the time required for the instruction to be given and the operator to place the paper causes the marking to be made far front end of the stage, behind which is a loudspeaker I, The mixing console is connected to a sound reproducer 8 through which a film 9 is fed from a reel' III to a reel II. On the mixing console is a plurality of control knobs l3 which are for the purpose of varying the volume from the sound reproducer 8 and other sound reproducers which maybe connected through the console to the loudspeaker 1 over conductors l4. Also, on the console are switches 16 and I! for controlling the operation of a footage counter 20 positioned adjacent the screen 6.

. A picture projector-2| projects a picture on the screen 6 from a film22 supplied from a reel 23 and taken up by a reel 24. The sound reproducer 8 and the picture projector 2| are driven by individual interlocked motors 25 and 26,'re.- spectively, while a motor 21, also interlocked with motors 25 and 26- from a common power supply 28, drives,' through a series of reduction gears 29, an interrupter 30 which sends, in synchronism with the rotation'of the motors 25 and 28,

impulses overv conductors 3| to the footage 20 operates to show the number of feet of film having run through the apparatus and the exact point being reproduced at that instant. As each reel has footagenumbers along the edges thereof, it is a very simple procedure for the reproducer operators to subsequently determine the exact point of any incident when the mixer makes note of the footage of counter in upon a cue sheet. The reproduce'r operator need only add the number of feet noted by the mixer to the footage number shown on the film at the beginning of the reel to determine the point of modification. After a rehearsal, the footage counter is usually returned to zero and this is accomplished by simply pressing a re-set switch. Other settings may-also be made, as will be ex plained hereinafter.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the circuit-for controlling the footage counter 28 is diagrammatically illustrated wherein the complete unit is shown as comprising a screen 40, a standard footage counter mechanism at having a plurality of discs bearing the numerals, a pair of lamps d2 for illuminating the counter 4| and a lens 43 for projecting the light to the screen 36. The lamps B2 are, of course, arranged to illuminate the counter in front of the lens 43. The counter it is driven in synchronism with the operation of the picture projector and sound reproducers by an impulse relay 55. which advances the first disc one-tenth of a revolution at each impulse, while a motor 46 connected to the footage counter for re-setting purposes. The impulses for operating the counter 4! are supplied from the interrupter 30 driven through the gear re duction unit 29 from the motor 2'! as shown in Fig. l.

The footage counter unit is supplied from two sources of power-one, a lfi-volt direct current supply from terminals 48; and, two, a llo-volt alternating current supply from terminals Q9. The console switches 56 and H of Fig. l are shown in Fig. 2, switch It connecting the l6-vo1t supply through a relay winding 58 over conductors iii, 52, 53 and 5d. The closing of switch. it, there= fore, energizes and actuates relay 58 which causes it to close its two contacts at and M. The closing of contact 58 energizes the lamps it over a circuit from'the llil -volt source comprising con-= ductor 59, contact 56, conductor 68, lamps t2 and conductor 5!. Thus, closing of the switch Mi energizes the lamps d2 so that the numerals on the counter at may be viewed on the screen iii.

The actuation of relay 5!! also closes contact 51, the closing of contact 5'! closing the interrupter circuit for energizing the impulse relay 45. The impulse relay circuit is from the lower terminal f the 16-volt source over conductor 63, interrupter r30, conductor 64, contact 65, when closed, conductor 58, impulse relay d5, conductor 61 and conductor 54. The contactfiii is closed by the actuation of the light switch iii when the contact 51 is made by relay 50. The circuit for the "relay operating contact 65 is from the 110- volt supply-over conductor'fi contact 5?, conductor 69. contact ill, normally closed, conductor H and through a time delay switch 12 and relay 13, conductor 14 and conductor BL- The relay l3 and time delay switch 12 are provided to prevent interference between the operation of the interrupter circuit and the re-setting operation. In other words, the counter 4| may be re-set by a simple operation at any time regardless of whether or not the motor 21 is operating.

To explain the operation of the delay portion of the system, the contact 51 is first closed,

which impresses energy from the 110-volt sourceacross a heating element between terminals 0 and I over conductor 16, contact TI, normally closed, swinger element 18, conductor '19, winding of relay l3, conductor 14 and conductor (H. In View of the high resistance of the resistance element between terminals a and b, insufficient energy passes through the winding 13 for operation of the delay relay. As the resistance element is heated by the current flowing therethrough, it eventually short-circuits terminals a and c after a predetermined time interval. At this in-' stant, energy is supplied from conductor H across terminals 0: and 0 over conductor 8|, conductor l9, windingof relay l3 and back to the 110-volt supply over conductors "l4 and GI. The closing of this circuit operates the relay closing the contact 65 and thus connects the interrupter 36 to the impulse relay d5.

- Simultaneously with the closing of contact 65, the contact 'i'l is broken and the swinger 18 makes contact at 82. The closing of contact 82 completes the relay holding circuit through the winding of relay "I3 from conductor H over conductor t t, contact 82, swinger l8, conductor 19,

winding of relay l3 and back to the nil-volt source over conductors l4 and 6!. above description, it will be observed that the closing of contact 5'! by relay 50 energizes relay after a short time interval, which interval,

of course, is the same regardless of at which point the circuit is made.

The above circuit is sufiicient for placing the footage counter in operation in synchronism with the picture projection and sound reproducing apparatus. The re-setting portion of the system will now be described. The switch I! '(of the push-type) counter ti, and the closing thereof completes a circuit from the 16-volt source over conductor ti t, switch if, conductor 86, winding of relay 81,

sired footage indication as long as the switch H is held closed. Upon the opening of switch it, the relay $1 is of course tie-energized, the V motor-energizing contact is broken, and the relay. l3 energizing'circuit is made at contact 10. However, since the motor 46 has a slight inertia and is not immediately stopped with thebreaking of contact 99, a short time delay is provided by the relay T3 and delay switch 12 before the interrupter circuit is made at contact 65. This time delay thus permits the counter M and motor 46 to come to rest before the first impulse is impressed on the relay 45 from the interrupter 30, if in operation.

From the.

is the re-setting switch for the- Thus, the above footage counter operating system permits complete control of thefootage counter from a remote point such as the mixin console, as shown in Fig. 1, the operator being.

able tore-set the footage counter during'a rehearsal as well as' at the beginning or end thereof. Through the delay action, there is no interference between the two energizing circuits for the counter, thus avoiding damage to any apparatus caused by false or accidental operatio of the control switches. i

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A footage counter control system comprising a footage counter adapted to be operated in synchronism with the advancement of a motion picture film, an intermittent contact device roby said contact device for advancing said counter, a time-delay relay connected intermediate said impulse motor and said contact device adapted to electrically interconnect said contact tatable at a rate determined by the advance-,-- ment of said film, an impulse motor controlled device and said impulse motora predetermined time interval after said relay is energized; a power supply for said impulse motor connected to said contact device, a second power supply, a

relay operable from said first power supply when connected thereto for connecting said second power supply to said delay relay, a second motor for said counter, said second power supply being connectable to said second motor, and meansenergized by said first power supply when connected thereto for connecting said second power supply to said second motor and for disconnecting said first power supply from said impulse motor, said time delay relay reconnecting said first power supply to said impulse motor a predetermined time interval after said second power, supply has been disconnected from said second motor and said delay relay is simultaneously connected to said second power supply.

2. A footage counter control system for indica'tingthe amount of film being projected comprising an impulse motor for said counter, a contactor for operating said impulse motor. a time-delay relay connected intermediate said motor and contactor for electrically connecting and disconnecting sa d motor and contactor, means for o erat ng said contactor in synchronism wi h the. proiection of said film, a power supply for said impulse motor. a second motor for said'counter, a second power supply for said second motor, and a relay system for controll ng said impulse -motor and said second motor,

saidre ay system including a pair of switches, said first switch controlling .the connecting and disconnecting of said second power supply to and from said time-delay relay, the

ing a counter having an impulse actuating means and a reversing actuating means, a source of power for said reversing means, a second source of power for said impulse actuating means, a relay energizable by said second source of power, a second relay energizable by said first mentioned source of power when said first mentioned relay is energized by said second source of power, the energization of said second relay connecting said second source of power to said impulse actuating means a predetermined time after said second relay is energized, and a third relay energizable by said second source of power, energization thereof tie-energizing said second relay, thereby disconnecting said second source of power from said impulse actuating means and connecting said first mentioned source of power to said reversing actuating means. 4. A control system for a footage counte adapted to operate in synchronism with the advancement of amotion' picture film comprising an impulse relay for advancing said counter, a'power supply for said relay, means for interrupting the flow of power to said" impulse relay at a rate determined by the speed of advancement of said film, a motor for reversing said counter, a power supply for said motor, a relay connected intermediate said impulse relay and said interrupting means, a second relay energizable by said impulse relay power supply for connecting said intermediate relay to said motor power supply for energizing said intermediate relay, and a third relay for de-energizing'said intermediate relay and simultaneously connecting said reversing motor to said motor power supply, de-energizatlon of said third relay simultaneously disconnecting said motor from its power supply and re-connecting said motor power supply to said intermediate relay for the ener- I gization thereof, said intermediate relay connectv ing said impulse relay to its power supply a predetermined time interval afterenergization of said intermediate relay.

5. A footage counter control system compris-v ing an impulse motor for driving. said counter in one direction, asecond motor for driving said counter in the opposite direction, a first power supply for energizing said impulse motor, a second power supply for energizing said second motor, a first relay intermediate said first power supply and said impulse motor, the energization of said relay connecting said first power supply to said impulse motor, a'second relay for controlling -the energization of said first relay, a switch for connecting said second relay to said first power supply for the energization of said second" relay, a third relay for controlling the energization of said firstrelay and the connec-- tion of said second motor to said second power supply, and a switch for connecting said third relay to said first power supply for the energization of said third relay, energization of said third relay causing the de-energization of said first 're- '.lay and the connection of said second motor to said second power supply while de-energizationof said third relay causes said second motor to be disconnected from said second power supply and said first'relay to be re-energized. THOMAS C. SHARP. 

